Space heater



Oct. 8, 1957 w. .1. SNYDER ETAL SPACE HEATER 3 Sheet..=-Sheet "1 Filed June 1, 1954 .f' zjierziors 2% Oct. 8, 1957 W. J. SNYDER ET AL SPACE HEATER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 1, 1954 m- KI Ill IIIIHHIIIIHHIIIIIIIIIH 2,808,823 SPACE HEATER Wesley .l. Snyder, Mathias Roth, James Dillingham, and Kenneth S. Jensen, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., assignors to Preway, Inc., a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 1, 1954, Serial No. 433,332 8 Claims. (Cl. 126-93) harm to the purchaser or the various parts of the space heater and attachments. To remedy the possibility of improper assembly we have provided a space heater constructed and arranged with new and improved means which allow a purchaser to make modifications substantially without possibilityof error. Accordingly, the invention relates more particularly to a space heater which can be easily and prop- States Patent erly modified substantially without possibility of mistake for use as a forced or gravity circulating type air heater and for use with either an integral or remote stationary type fuel tank.

Another object of the invention is to provide a space heater having parts which must necessarily be removed or conversely installed before the space heater can be operably modified and which can only be assembled in a certain proper sequence and position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a heater embodying a lower backplate provided with a pair of angle bars and operable as a partial closure member for the lower part of the opening in the back of the cabinet, a blower unit provided with hooks for use with hook holes in the angles, the construction and arrangement being such that the blower unit cannot be assembled with the cabinet until the lower backplate and angles have been secured in proper position.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a heater as described above with a lower backplate operable without the angle bars and secured to the cabinet back by suitable means, the blower unit hooks being received in holes in the cabinet adjacent either sideof the opening which cannot receive the hooks before removal of a shield and upper backplate utilized when the heater is used as a gravity air flow heater. 3

'Yet another object of the invention is to provide frame means for use with the construction as described above wherein a fuel tank may be securely supported behind the blower unit, the construction and arrangement being such that the fuel tank cannot be operably mounted behind the blower unit without the use of the upper backplate which acts as a heat radiationprotecting means for the fuel tank.

Other and further objects of the readily apparent from ings in which:

invention will be the following description and draw- Fig. 1 is a rear elevational view of a form of the invention showing a blower unit operably associated with the. cabinet to adapt the heater for usev as a forced air heater, the blower unit having a portion cut away to illustrate 'a filter andgrillassociated therewith;

'Fig. 1A is a fragmentary elevational viewof a portion of the means operable for supporting the blower unit in position and illustrating the hook hole in the lower backplate right hand angle bar;

ice.

Fig. 1B is a fragmentaryv side elevational view looking at the right hand side of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1A; 1

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 illustrating the relationship between a portion of the lower backplate and associated angle bars, the blower unit, the adjacent portions of the back side of the cabinet and means forsecuring the blower unit in position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary right-hand side elevational view of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. l, but showing the blower unit mounted to the cabinet without the use of the lower back panel angle bars and using instead hooks operable with holes in the cabinet back;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a form of the invention and illustrating the heater as adapted for use as a forced air type with frame means supporting a portable fuel tank behind the'blower unit; and,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. ,5 with a portion of the blower unit and adjacent portion of the cabinet broken away.

While we have shown in the drawings and shall herein describe in detail a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that we do not hereby intend to limit the invention to the specific forms disclosed. It is contemplated that various changeszniaybe made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The space heater of this invention comprises a casing or cabinet A having a front wall 10 rising from a floor shield plate 11 and joining with side walls 12 interconnected by a back wall 13 to support a top wall 14. The cabinet top is provided with a grill which may comprise a plurality of spaced apart forwardly-inclined louvres 15, the upper portion of the front wall being provided with a plurality of louvres 16. A door 17 is provided in the front wall of the cabinet for access through the cabinet to a combustion chamber in the form of a drum B supported from the bottom of the cabinet in a spaced relation from the cabinet walls. .A flue pipe 18 is connected to the rear of the drum and extends through the back wall of the cabinet abovea rectangular air opening 19 beginning a slight distance below the flue and extend ing to the floor shield plateof the cabinet. The open ing is provided with an inwardly-extending vertical flange 20 running the height of the opening, adjacent each side thereof. Each flange is pierced with two threaded holes 21 for use with a forced air modification of the heater. A plurality of leveler bolts 24, threadably received in the floor shield 11, adjustably. support the cabinet'on a floor surface. It is contemplated that a suitable burner and associated mechanical means normally used in a heater of this type may be utilized and for a disclosure of one type burner and associated mechanical means reference is directed to Patent No. 2,576,685 entitled Forced Air Circulation Combustion Type Space Heater,

issued November 27, 19 51, to'K. S. Jonson.

A plurality of possible modifications are illustrated by the drawings: a forced air type space. heater shown without the useof an integralfuel tank (Figs. 1, 3 and 4), the Figs. 3 and 4 illustrating a m'odifie'd means for supporting the blower unit in position on the back wall of the cabinet; and the forced airtype heater adapted for use with an integral fuel tank (Figs. 5 and 6) and illustrating a further rrnodified means .for supporting the blower unit in position. I

There aretwo sets of spaced screw passing unthreaded holes inethecabinet baclr' adjacent each side of the opening-.19. Each set. comprises two holes, one hole. 32.of,

each set being of greater diameter than the other hole 33 of the set so as to be adaptable for receiving the hooks of' ablowei" unit in: a forcedi 'draft imodification;

A tank mayltlien-be operably connected to the heater by any suitable conduit 46 (Fig. 3) removably secured at-one end to the tanktand'at the. other encl'to a constant level valve 46awhichxconnects with a burner inletpipe 47;operable with the burner mechanism ofthe heat drum.

The:-forced air modification illustrated in Figs. l and 2 embodies" the use of a. substantially rectangular lower backplate or cover plate 50 provided with spacedopenings Sl, 52 and 53and:carrying a'vertical'angle. bar 54 at each end attached to. the plate 50 by any suitable means The plate is positioned on the outside of the cabinet back across thelower portion of opening 19 audzits upper edge defines the lower extremity of the remaining: air' opening. Each ofthe angle bars 54 is provided with a flange 58 normal :to the casing back and positioned in thetair opening overlying vertical cabinet flanges 20.: The. angle .flanges' are-provided with unthreadedholes 58' (Fig. 2) which register with threaded holes 21 in the cabinet flangesfor receiving screws 59 to' secure. the-lower backplate' in. position, the arrangement. being. such that the angle: flange holes will not register with holes 21 if an attempt is made. to secure the lower backplate in an upside-down position. Each of: the angles' is provided with a flange 69 extending in a plane. parallelwiththe backside of the. cabinet and overlying. and closing thecabinetholes 32 and 33 as a safety measure against attempted repositioning of an" upper backplate. and shieldutilized when the heater is used as-a gravity air flow heater.

A blower unit 61:embodying a closed casing 62 of a size to completely enclose the remaining: air opening, a fan and motor-63, a front plate. 64 and arear grill 65 protecting a filter 66, is'hung adjacent the back of the cabinet by hooks 67 whichiare pivotallymounted to the blower. casingsat68- and received in protruding slots 69 and pockets-70: provided ineach. flange 6t) as'best illustrated in Fig. l. The hooks are pivoted on: each side of:'the.:blower'casing at a'pointspaced' rearwardly from the. cabinet back and-extend upwardly: and toward'the backiso that the weightofthe blower keeps it inplace against i the cabinet back.

If;a:remote stationary'fueltank (notshown) is to be utilized, the conduit 46 may be extended to thetank. The center opening 52. receivesthe burner inlet pipe when-one burner and .one heating drum is used. When a;tWin-'type, heater. having. two burners and two drums isused, the two inlet pipes. pass through openings 51 and 53.

The Figs; 3 and 4 illustrate amodified method'for booking: the blower unit in position without the use. of angle bars 54. The-lower backplate 501 is secured in positionrby any suitable means-as by stovebolts through unthreaded holes :76 and 77 in the backplateand. cabinet, respectively, and the blower unit hung in place'by elongated hooks67 inserted through the large cabinet holes 32, one'hook being slightly. longer than. the other because of the verticaloftset positioning of holes 32.,so'thatthe blower unit will nothang at an angle. This construction also necessitates-removalof a'shield'andupper backplate as the holes in:eachishield' bracketregistering with:

4' upper members 78' connected by an upper cross member 79. and-supported at..each side by vertical members 80 (one of which is shown) which are joined by a lower cross member (not shown) and are each provided with a bottom member 81 having a floor supporting portion 32. Each of the upper members '78 carries a vertical flange 83 provided with threaded holes registering with unthreaded' holes 84 m the back side of the cabinet for receiving screws 85 to secure the upper portion of the bracket to the cabinet back. Bottom members 81 are secured" to the rearwardly=extending portion of the floor shield by screws 86 threadably received in the floor shield. The integral tank supporting frame is of open, flexible construction sothat'regardless of the adjustment given to leveler bolts 24"the floor supporting portions 82'of the frame willalways' rest upon the floor. An upper backplate 37 isthen-secured by any suitable means to the'rear portion of the'fuel'tank frame and the fuel tank 45 ishung to the upper backplate. by bracket hooks'44. A conduit87i-may then besecured at one end to the fuel tank and at the'other endtoregulating valve 46a and the sp ace heater is operably assembled.

Ifitis desired touse the-construction illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 as a gravity air heater, the blower unit may be easily "disengaged from the-cabinet without'disturbing-th'e frame and-'theco-nstruction is operable for such use, the upperbackplate'thereafter serving to protect'the' integral fuel tank from excessive heat radiation.

We claim:

l Aheaterprovided with a casing having a flat back with a-substantially rectangular opening therein comprising; vertical inwardly-extending flanges along opposite sides of the opening each provided with spaced threaded holes, means defining unthreaded holes in the casing back adjacent the opposite sides-of the opening. for receiving fastening dvices operable' with'a shield plate and back plate when" the heater isused as a gravity air flow heater, heating elements in said casing provided with a fuel supply pipe extending outthrough the lower portion of the air opening," a cover plate extending across a lower portion' of the rectangular opening and having a bottom edge-*notch'fittin'g over said supply pipe, the top ofsaid cover 'plate defihing the lower-limits of an air opening, a' vertically-extending angle bar' secured to each end of the. cover-plate each of said angle bars havingta flange normal to the back of the casingand positioned within said air openingitheretbeingholes in said. angle flange.

registering with thethreaded holes in the vertical cabinetfflanges to receiver threadedmeans for securing. the cover plate:-to'thel'casing, a second flange portion on each? of saidangel'bars overlying:and closing the holes adjacent'thesidesofithe. air opening in said casing, said. secondjflangeaportion havinghookhole's therein, a blower unitha'vingzatcas'rng shaped to cover the air. opening,

hooks pivotallymounted to saidblower casing. and extending upwardly and; towardsaid heater'casing for en-. gagementrwith the hook holes for fastening said unit operably tOFthBE heater-casinga: flexible open box-like bracket frame. positioned around said blower unit and having-aportionresting. on a surface supporting the heater tlirea'ded:holes'; means: defining unthreaded holes in the' casin'gt-bach alon'gzthe oppositesides of theopening for: receiving fasteningdevices operable witha shield plate andjbackplat when tlie" heater-is used as agravity air flow heater, aicoVerplt extending across the lower portidn of the re'c'tangular opening with its upper extremity defining the lower limits of an air opening, an angle bar secured to each end of the cover plate, each of said angle bars having a flange normal to the back of the casing and positioned within said air opening, there being holes in said angle flange registering with the threaded holes in the cabinet flanges to receive screws for securing the cover plate in position, a second flange portion on each of said angle bars overlying and closing the holes along the sides of the air opening in said casing, said second flange portions having hook holes therein, a blower unit having a casing shaped to cover the air opening, hooks pivotally mounted to said blower casing and extending upwardly and toward said heater casing for engagement with the hook holes for fastening said unit operably to the heater casing, a flexible open bracket frame positioned around said blower unit and having a portion resting on a surface supporting the heater casing, means for securing the bracket to the heater casing, the backplate being releasably secured to said rear frame portion behind the blower unit, a fuel tank, and means for releasably securing said fuel tank in operable position against the backplate.

3. A heater with a casing having a back with an opening therein comprising; vertical inwardly-extending cas ing flanges along opposite sides of the opening each provided with spaced threaded holes, means defining spaced unthreaded holes in the casing back along the opposite sides of the opening for receiving fastening devices operable with a shield plate and backplate when the heater is used as a gravity air flow heater, a coverplate extending across the lower portion of the opening with its upper extremity defining the lower limits of an air opening, a vertically-extending angle bar secured to each end of the coverplate, each of said angle bars having a flange normal to the back of the casing and positioned within said air opening, there being holes in said angle flange registering with the threaded holes in the vertical casing flanges to receive threaded devices for securing the coverplate in position, a second flange portion on each of said angle bars overlying and closing the holes along the sides of the air opening in said casing, each of said second flange portions having a hook hole therein, a blower unit having a casing shaped to cover the air opening above the lower coverplate, hooks pivotally mounted to said blower casing and extending upwardly and toward said heater casing for engagement with the hook holes for fastening said unit operably to the heater casing.

4. A heater with a casing having a back provided with an opening therein comprising; vertical inwardly-extending flanges along opposite sides of the opening each provided wtih spaced threaded holes, means defining unthreaded holes in the casing back along the opposite side of the opening, a coverplate extending across the lower portion of the opening with its upper extremity defining the lower limits of an air opening, a verticallyextending angle bar secured to each end of the coverplate, each of said angle bars having a flange normal to the back of the casing and positioned within said air opening, there being holes in said angle flange registering with the threaded holes in the vertical casing flanges to receive fastening devices for securing the coverplate in posi tion on the outside of the casing back, a second flange portion on each of said angle bars overlying and closing the holes along the sides of the air opening in said casing, a flexible open bracket frame positioned around said air opening allowing for positioning of a blower unit across the air opening and having a portion resting on a surface supporting the heater casing, means for securing the bracket to the heater casing, a supporting member releasably secured to said rear frame portion, a fuel tank, and means operable for releasably securing said fuel tank in operable position against the supporting member.

5. A heater with a casing having a back with an opening therein comprising; means defining unthreaded holes in the casing adjacent the opposite sides of the opening for receiving fastening devices operable with a shield plate and backplate when the heater is used as a gravity air flow heater, a coverplate extending across a lower portion of the rectangular opening with its upper extremity defining the lower limits of an air opening, means releasably securing the coverplate in position on the outside of the casing back, a blower unit having a casing shaped to cover the air opening, hooks pivotably mounted to said blower casing and extending upwardly and toward said heater casing for engagement with one of said unthreaded holes in the casing on either side of the opening for mounting the blower unit to the heater casing, a flexible open bracket frame positioned around the blower unit and having a portion resting on a surface supporting the heater casing, means for securing the bracket to the heater casing, the backplate being releasably secured to said rear frame portion behind the blower unit, a fuel tank, and means for releasably securing the fuel tank in operable position against the backpiate.

6. A heater with a casing having a back with an opening therein comprising; vertical inwardly-extending flanges along opposite sides of the opening each provided with spaced threaded holes, means defining spaced unthreaded hoies in the casing adjacent the opposite sides of the opening for receiving fastening devices operable with a shield plate and backplate when the heater is used as a gravity air fiow heater, a cover member extending across a lower portion of the opening with its upper extremity defining the lower limits of an air opening, a verticallyextending member secured to each end of the cover member, each of said members having a flange normal to the back of the casing and positioned within said air opening, there being holes in said flange registering with the threaded holes in the vertical casing flanges to receive threaded devices for securing the cover member in position on the outside of the casing back, a blower unit having a casing shaped to cover the air opening, and means pivotably mounted to said blower casing for engagement with one of said unthreaded holes in the heater casing on either side of the air opening for releasably securing said blower unit to the casing in operable position with the air opening.

7. A heater with a casing having a back with an opening therein comprising; a cover member extending across a lower portion of the opening with its upper extremity defining the lower limits of an air opening, means releasably securing the cover plate in position on the outside of the casing back, means defining an unthreaded hole adjacent each side of the opening and adapted for receiving means operable for releasably securing a blower unit across the air opening, a flexible open bracket frame having a portion resting on a surface supporting the heater casing, means for securing the bracket to the heater casing back, and means releasably securing a portable fuel tank to a portion of the bracket frame in operable relation with the heater.

8. A heater with a casing having a back with an opening therein comprising; means defining a hook hole in the casing back adjacent each side of the opening, a cover member extending across the lower portion of the opening with its upper extremity defining the lower limits of an air opening, means for securing the cover plate in position on the outside of the casing back, a blower unit having a casing shaped to cover the air opening, and hooks pivotably mounted to said blower casing and extending upwardly and toward said heater casing for engagement with the hook holes for fastening said unit in operable position with the air opening and to the casing back.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,024,035 Smith Apr. 23, 1912 1,528,564 Pfafienberger Mar. 3, 1925 2,068,111 Resek et al. Jan. 19, 1937 2,162,084 Hoffman June 13, 1939 

